The Worcester Railers regrouped after Wednesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Norfolk Admirals, and after a day of practice on Thursday made some adjustments and then took it to their ECHL North Division rivals Friday night at the Norfolk Scope in a 4-1 victory. Ashton Calder had a goal and an assist for Worcester while Tristan Lennox earned his first pro win with a 19 save performance.
The victory was the 900th regular season win in Worcester pro hockey history.
The first frame was pretty even until Zach White and Ryan Verrier both were sent to the penalty box in quick succession, and Admirals forward Justin Young was able to convert on the five-on-three power play to make it 1-0 at 13:21.
At 18:08 Calder picked up his second tally of the season to knot the game 1-1.
The Railers had a 15-2 shot edge in the middle frame and bucked a trend that has bugged them for many seasons by taking advantage of the wide disparity in shots when Adam Goodsir was credited with the power play at 6:28. In soccer, or futball if you prefer, Norfolk defender Domenick Fensore would have been listed with an own-goal, but there no such thing in hockey so the goal is Goodsir’s.
Early in the third Jake Pivonka gave his team a little breathing room with a nice backhand put-back to make it 3-1 1:12 into the third period.
Were the game at the DCU Center Zsombor Garat would have been given the secondary assist on the play. But it wasn’t, and he wasn’t. He still could be, so we’ll watch for any scoring changes.
Blade Jenkins then launched the killing blow at 6:37.
The two teams get Saturday night off before playing the rubber match Sunday, with a 3pm puck drop.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Andrei Bakanov, Artyom Kulakov, Jack Quinlivan (IR/unknown), Anthony Repaci, and Jake Schultz. Henrik Tikkanen was the backup goaltender.
It seems that either the ECHL didn’t look at Wednesday night’s Keaton Jameson hit to the head of Anthony Callin, or looked at it and decided that hit didn’t rise to the level of supplementary discipline. The first option is irksome, and the second is worrisome.
The game story on the Railers website lists Repaci, whose name my laptop has suddenly started autocorrecting to “Rapaci” for some reason, as “DNP”. He joined Worcester play-by-play man Tim Foley for a period during Friday night’s game, and while he didn’t mention being injured let’s just say this writer is thinking he may not have been available to play. Repaci took a sort of stick-check type hit in the open ice Wednesday from Stepan Timofeyev and didn’t play the third period. To complete the record, Jake Schultz joined Foley for the second period.
This writer took most of Friday night off, so not much of a post for the game. There might not have been one but seeing as I have a long streak going no reason to not let it continue. Heck, Cal Ripken didn’t play every inning in his games played streak, no reason why I can’t follow his lead a bit.
The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – 16 Ashton Calder
2. WOR – 30 Tristan Lennox
3. NOR – 21 Justin Young
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Jake Pivonka.
Even Strength Lines (Courtesy of Dylan “WooHockey” Schofield)
Howdeshell / Jenkins / Ryan
Goodsir / Cipollone / Callin
Piercey / Pivonka / Calder
X / Robbins / White
Cosgrove / Copeland
Welsh / Verrier
Krygier / Garat
Our affiliates last night
@Charlotte 5, Bridgeport 2
In the ECHL’s North Division
No other games
BOX SCORE
Worcester 1 1 2 – 4
Norfolk 1 0 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Norfolk, Young 2 (Roy, Fensore), 13:21 (PP). 2, Worcester, Calder 2 (Howdeshell, Piercey), 18:09. Penalties-Golder Nor (tripping), 5:08; McLean Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:17; White Wor (slashing), 12:42; Verrier Wor (hooking), 13:09.
2nd Period-3, Worcester, Goodsir 1 6:28 (PP). Penalties-Timofeyev Nor (slashing), 4:44; Katic Nor (hooking), 11:58; Jenkins Wor (hooking), 13:16; Kubicek Nor (roughing), 20:00.
3rd Period-4, Worcester, Pivonka 2 (Calder), 1:12. 5, Worcester, Jenkins 1 (Ryan), 6:37. Penalties-Ryan Wor (tripping), 0:50; Callin Wor (interference on the goalkeeper), 18:46.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 7-15-15-37. Norfolk 9-2-9-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 5; Norfolk 1 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Lennox 1-1-0-0 (20 shots-19 saves). Norfolk, Perets 0-2-0-0 (37 shots-33 saves).
A-3,076
Referees-Logan Gruhl (29), Evan Reddick (21).
Linesmen-Joseph Johnson (78), Derek Howard (55).
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